Colonel Nazim to be sentenced tonight

Criminal Court has decided to sentence the former Defence Minister Colonel-retired Mohamed Nazim who has been charged with import and possession of a firearm.

After the closing statements in today’s hearing in the charges brought against the former Defence Minister after a handgun, a magazine and three bullets were found in his apartment, Judge Abdul Baaree Yousuf said that the hearings in the trial are over and a final session would be help tonight at 11:15 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. for the sentencing.

In the hearing that started at 4 p.m. today, in the closing statement, the prosecutor Adam Arif said that since Nazim cannot prove how he got the weapon, the state believes it was imported by the former Defence minister.

Arif said that the witnesses from the prosecution have proved that it was Nazim who imported the firearm.

The closing statement by the defence said that while Nazim has been charged with the import, the prosecution has to prove where he got it from. And noting the false testimonials and the discrepancies in the testimonials provided by the prosecution, Nazim’s lawyers said no trustworthy proof has been presented to the court.

Noting that the court order for the search was acquired by the police outside the law, the defence lawyers said that the search for Galolhu Enfin was requested by misleading the judges and they should have asked the search warrant for a specific apartment of the house. And the pen drive found at Nazim’s apartment is applicable as evidence since it was not presented to the court.

Nazim’s lawyers said that not enough time was given to present witnesses and to prepare a defence. And the court has not given the opportunity to present testimonies from important defence witness.

If the former Defence Minister is found guilty of import of a firearm, he would be sentenced to 10 – 15 years in prison.